Podcast Summary: “Hold Fast, Part Three” | Nancy Dufresne | Jesus the Healer Broadcast

Dufresne Ministries Podcast
February 11, 2021

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne teaches on the theme of “holding fast” to what God has given, emphasizing that faith must go beyond receiving; believers must actively maintain and stand firm in what they have received from God. Filmed from her ranch in Colorado, Nancy uses scripture, testimony, and practical examples to encourage listeners to become skillful not only in receiving by faith but in retaining every blessing God provides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Faith Beyond Receiving

• Faith must not only take hold, it must hold fast:
  “Faith not only receives from God, receives its answer, receives its manifestation, but faith also holds fast to what it receives.” (00:40)
• The role of the enemy as a thief:
  “If the devil can’t stop you from receiving your answer, then what he wants to do is steal it from you after you’ve received it. The devil is a thief. He comes to steal, he comes to kill, and to destroy.” (01:10)

2. “Hold Fast” in Scripture & Life

• Biblical directive:
  Quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” (03:22)
• Analogy from WWII:
  Nancy references soldiers taking and losing ground multiple times, explaining, “It took them 12 times before they learned how to hold the ground they took. Well, it's the same thing with faith…” (04:31)

3. The Importance of Gratitude

• Maintaining a grateful heart:
  “One way that we hold fast to what God has blessed us with is through rejoicing… If we’re not grateful, if we’re not thankful for what God has blessed us with, then the devil can steal it from us.” (08:42)
• Consequences of ungratefulness:
  “When we lose gratitude, our faith will break down. What we receive from God will break down in our lives.” (09:21)

4. Confession and Profession of Faith

• Confession as a means of holding fast:
  “He is the high priest of our confession. When he hears us make a confession as our high priest, he takes that to the Father.” (12:40)
• Norval Hayes’ observation:
  “When you ask God and pray for something, God turns to Jesus, who is the high priest of your confession, and says, ‘How much have they confessed this now?’” (13:18)

5. Consistency: No Wavering Allowed

• Scriptural support:
  Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.” (15:09)
• Warning about inconsistency:
  “Every day your confession and profession has to be the exact same. You can’t move forward in your profession and then move back the next day.” (15:58)

6. Holding Fast to All That’s Ours in Redemption

• Not just what’s manifested, but what’s ours in Christ:
  “In Christ, we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing, whether healing is manifested or not. Healing belongs to us…Victory is already ours.” (17:52)

7. Testimony: Holding Fast Under Pressure

• Ed Dufresne’s city council story:
  • Faced a zoning denial for a church building; told to “stand still” and not give up. (20:04)
  • Unexpectedly, a technical error required a re-vote and the outcome was reversed in their favor due to one councilman changing his mind. (23:24)
  • Nancy interprets this as an example of the power of holding fast even when circumstances say otherwise.

8. Biblical Example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

• Standing firm before King Nebuchadnezzar:
  Nancy recounts their refusal to bow to the idol, even before the fiery furnace, observing, “A life of faith is not just holding to what’s right when everything looks like it’s going well, but when it looks like it’s going wrong, you still must hold fast.” (31:00)
• Result of holding fast:
  “Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held fast and did not change, Jesus showed up for them. When you hold fast, Jesus shows up for you.” (38:01)

9. A Warning from Experience

• Testimony of losing what was received by faith:
  “Tell that man to make sure that he… maintain[s] by faith. Well, he didn’t understand… within a few short months… he ended up losing [the house]. Why? Because he thought, well, I’ve got the house, it’s mine now. After you receive from God… you have to maintain that which you’ve received.” (41:00)

10. Practical Application: Gratitude as a Daily Practice

• Encouragement to daily thank God for His blessings:
  “Every day, say, Father, thank you for all that you blessed me with… As you do, the devil can’t steal anything from you that God’s blessed you with.” (43:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you’re going to believe everything the devil tells you, he’ll steal from you everything I’ve ever blessed you with.” – Nancy Dufresne sharing what God spoke to her (07:05)
• “Holding fast to it is not automatic. We have to on purpose, hold fast to it.” (05:15)
• “When we lose gratitude, our faith will break down.” (09:21)
• “Every day your confession and profession has to be the exact same. You can’t move forward in your profession and then move back the next day.” (15:58)
• “When you hold fast, Jesus shows up for you.” (38:01)
• “Faith delights in the opportunity to hold fast.” (44:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40 – Introduction of the “hold fast” theme.
• 03:22 – 1 Thessalonians 5:21: Scriptural call to “hold fast that which is good.”
• 04:31 – WWII analogy: Holding ground vs. losing it.
• 08:42 – Power of rejoicing and gratitude in holding fast.
• 12:40 – Jesus as the high priest of our confession.
• 15:09 – Hebrews 10:23: “Hold fast…without wavering.”
• 17:52 – “Hold fast” to all blessings of our redemption, not just visible manifestations.
• 20:04-23:24 – Ed Dufresne’s city council zoning testimony.
• 31:00–38:01 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: uncompromising faith under threat.
• 41:00 – Testimony: Losing what was not maintained by faith.
• 43:00 – Practical daily gratitude as a safeguard.

Summary Takeaways

• Believers are to actively “hold fast” to every blessing and promise received from God, as the enemy will seek opportunities to steal them away.
• Gratitude and consistent confession are powerful tools in retaining what is received by faith.
• Standing firm, especially through adversity or setbacks, positions believers for God’s intervention and continued blessing.
• Ultimately, faith must be persistent, unwavering, and thankful to secure every victory God has made available.